Who Is at Risk of Peripheral Artery Disease?

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is caused by the narrowing of the arteries in the extremities. This narrowing reduces the amount of blood that is supplied to the legs. Peripheral artery disease is mostly caused by the accumulation of fat inside the arteries in a condition called atherosclerosis. Blood flow to the heart, brain, and legs is reduced due to the narrowing of the blood vessels.

Many people with peripheral artery disease do not have symptoms but some have symptoms like pain during walking, which is referred to as claudication. This pain that occurs in this condition can be treated by an anesthesiologist in Monroe Township, NJ using medications, nerve block, or cold laser therapy. Treatment is individualized for every patient, therefore, improving the outcomes.

What Are the Symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease?

Many people with peripheral artery disease may have no symptoms, or their symptoms may be mild. Other people may present with claudication, which is leg pain when a person is walking. Claudication causes muscle cramping in the leg’s calf region, and the pain goes away with rest. The pain of claudication can occur at any other site in which the arteries have been narrowed.

Other symptoms of peripheral claudication include numbness or weakness in the legs, legs with a shiny skin or have a change in the skin color, hip or thigh pain, a leg that feels cold compared to the other leg, reduction in the growth of toenails, lack of a pulse in the affected leg, hair loss in the legs or erectile dysfunction in men.

The severity of these symptoms varies in different people, and some people may even experience pain when they are resting in what is called ischemic rest pain. The pain reduces when you hang your leg on the edge of the bed. Some of the complications of peripheral artery disease include stroke or heart attack because of a reduction in blood supply in the heart or brain.

A person may also develop chronic non-healing ulcers that may get infected and result in tissues’ death. When the tissues in the leg are dead, the doctor will amputate the leg, and this can traumatize someone. To avoid these complications, you should consult a doctor early enough to get treatment.

Who Is at Risk of Peripheral Artery Disease?

People who smoke, are diabetic, obese, or suffer from high blood pressure are at an increased risk of getting peripheral artery disease. Old age that is above 50 years also increases the chances of peripheral artery disease. Some people are genetically predisposed to get peripheral artery disease. Having high cholesterol and homocysteine levels also increases the risk of PAD.

PAD’s risk can be reduced by quitting smoking, weight reduction, exercising regularly for 30 minutes, and repeating this many times in a week. Eating a healthy diet with low saturated fats and controlling the blood sugar in diabetic patients also reduces the risk of PAD.

Conclusion

Peripheral artery disease is a condition that occurs when the arteries in the extremities become narrowed due to fat deposits. Narrowing of arteries causes a reduction in the blood supply in the legs, which can cause pain in the calf that reduces with rest and also can cause limb numbness and weakness. Hypertensive and diabetic patients, people older than 50 years and overweight persons are at a high risk of PAD. The risk can be reduced by quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, and good blood sugar control in people who have diabetes.

What Are the Benefits of Functional Medicine?

Functional medicine has lots of benefits. It is effective in diagnosing and treating diseases using an approach that is different from conventional medicine. Instead of treating the symptoms, functional medicine treats the root cause of the disease. The benefits of Yonkers anti-aging & functional medicine include the following:

A Different Approach

With conventional medicine, the lab results are interpreted in a range. If your results do not fit in the range, you are considered normal, which may not be the case. Functional medicine is different because results are analyzed individually. The treatment analyzes results in a way that makes it possible to know when you have dysfunction or imbalance. You can get more accurate answers to your health concerns.

It Addresses the Root Cause of the Problem

Instead of treating the symptoms of your disease, functional medicine addresses the main cause. It recognizes the fact that treating your symptoms is not enough. By identifying and treating your dysfunction, it is possible to prevent similar diseases in the future. The goal is to get full treatment rather than just managing the illness.

Healing the Whole You

Wellness is about more than just having the right cholesterol levels or blood pressure reading. It is about feeling like your best self. It addresses the impact of illness on your general well-being. According to functional medicine standards, your health should be reflected in all aspects of your life. It gives you the chance to pursue emotional, physical, and mental health.

Few Side Effects

Functional medicine is simple and personalized. The side effects of treatment are mild and minimal. Functional medicine doctors are trained to use the most gentle treatment approach for your needs. You are likely to recover without having to struggle with harsh or unpleasant side effects. Treatments such as exercising and improving your nutrition often work without posing any discomfort.

Personalized Approach

The best thing about functional medicine is that treatments are created to address your specific needs. Every patient gets a treatment plan that addresses their specific deficiencies. The doctors may use genetic assessments, blood tests, or stool samples to learn about your physiological makeup and deficiencies.

Treating Complex Health Problems

If you have a chronic health condition, conventional medicine is not always the best way to treat it. Functional medicine is great for treating chronic pain, gut disorders, heart disease, depression, and other conditions.

Functional medicine takes a look at how your lifestyle may be affecting your general health. Through extensive testing, functional medicine doctors can explore the specific conditions of your body. They can have a clear image of what is going on and what needs to change.

Functional medicine does not only help you get relief for your condition but may also reverse the condition or improve the quality of your life.

In conclusion, functional medicine works by changing the questions that doctors ask in conventional medicine. Its purpose is to promote healing and a sense of wellness by addressing the deeper issues rather than just your symptoms.

Benefits of a Smile Makeover

A smile is an often-ignored part of everyday existence. Therefore, a smile makeover in Huntington Beach could make a significant difference in your life.

A smile makeover is a dental procedure that addresses your dental and aesthetic needs to improve your smile. It can be as simple as teeth whitening or as complicated as a complete dental reconstruction.

You may need a smile makeover if you have broken, chipped, cracked, missing, or discolored teeth. You can also get a smile makeover if you have tooth decay or gum disease.

The best thing about a smile makeover is that it is specifically tailored to your specific dental needs. However, there are benefits to be had by everyone such as:

Confidence Boost

The most prevalent and proclaimed benefit of getting a smile makeover is an increase in confidence. A smile can boost your self-esteem significantly especially because of the response you get from others.

A great smile is important for the confidence of even the most powerful men on the planet. It makes people feel at ease and more comfortable which in turn makes your engagements more intriguing.

The confidence you gain from a smile makeover spills into all other areas of your life including work, relationships, and hobbies. The more confident you are, the better you perform which further improves your confidence in a positively reinforced loop.

First Impression

There are few older and truer sayings than ‘first impressions last.’ The first impression you make on a crowd or a person influences all the interactions you have with them going forward.

There are few things that make as deep an impression as a good smile. It is a universal signal that you are not only confident but also approachable.

Therefore, if you want to make a first impression on others that actually sticks and causes an impact, a smile makeover is the cosmetic dental procedure for you. However, you have to use the smile to feel its benefits.

Enjoy Food

Depending on the procedures included in your smile makeover, it may help you enjoy your food more than before. It is especially so if your dental structure was significantly damaged before the procedure.

When your teeth are damaged, eating can become a nuisance, and enjoying your food is impossible. When you get your teeth rectified as part of your smile makeover, chewing and swallowing both become easier and you are able to enjoy eating a lot more than earlier.

Better Oral Health

As stated before, a smile makeover may include procedures that rectify other areas of your mouth. When that happens, you may end up with better oral health than you had before.

Chipped, broken, and missing teeth are all things that may negatively affect your oral health. By fixing them for aesthetic purposes, you also improve their functionality and your oral health as a side effect.

Having a better and brighter smile leads most people to take better care of their teeth to maintain a smile. Flossing and brushing more for a better smile will also leave you with a healthier mouth.

What Are the Benefits of Regenerative Medicine?

Regenerative medicine is a medical field that treats a variety of conditions and diseases. It is a great treatment option for chronic pain. Sarasota regenerative medicine can help with pain in your knee, wrist, shoulder, elbow, or joints. Traditional treatments are great for managing chronic pain. However, regenerative medicine strengthens your tendons and repairs the tissues. It is not only great for relieving pain but also curing the cause of the problem. Some benefits of the procedure include:

Increased Functionality

One of the biggest benefits of regenerative medicine is that it promotes the production of collagen. It strengthens the problematic tissues and tendons. As a result, you may experience renewed or improved functionality. The increased production of collagen in your body increases the range of motion in your joints.

Accelerated Healing

Unlike traditional methods, regenerative medicine speeds up the healing process. The human body can take care of itself. If you accidentally cut yourself or fall, your wounds recover in just a few days. Regenerative medicine improves the healing power of your body. It targets the specific areas that your body needs to heal. Regenerative medical providers will inject a stem cell or PRP directly into the affected area. The injection accelerates healing for degenerative disease. It can aid in:

  • Regrowing cartilage
  • Repairing degenerated spinal discs
  • Regrowing and repairing ligaments and tendons

You can get back to your daily life activities as soon as possible.

Reduced Pain and Inflammation

Regenerative medicine is great for managing chronic pain and inflammation. Traditional medications often come with side effects. They may not work for everyone. PRP and stem cell therapies may cause some discomfort but they do not have any side effects. They do not introduce any foreign bodies into your body. If your body mistakenly attacks its own tissues, you may experience some inflammation. Regenerative therapy may prevent the problem. It is great for conditions such as:

  • Lower back pain
  • Joint pain
  • Sciatica
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Sports injuries
  • Lower back pain

Healthy Bones and Tissues

Regenerative medicine promotes the development of healthy bones and tissues. While traditional medicine is reactive, regenerative treatment aims to promote your overall health and avoid future problems. It makes your body stronger and improves the health and functioning of your musculoskeletal system.

It May be an Alternative to Surgery

If you have a degenerative injury or treatment that does not respond to traditional treatment options, your doctor may recommend surgery. However, you may benefit from regenerative medicine. It is a great option for older adults who may prefer to avoid surgery.

Minimal Recovery Time

With regenerative medicine, the recovery time is a lot shorter than for traditional treatment options. The material used in treatment is obtained from your cells and tissues. You will recover and get back to your normal routine fast.

If you are curious about regenerative medicine and its ability to treat your symptoms, seek the opinion of your doctor as soon as possible. They may suggest that you use it to treat osteoarthritis, sports injuries, or joint pain.

Why You Need Vaginal Rejuvenation

Most women could be uncomfortable with how their vaginas are dealing with old age or childbirth but could not dare talk about it. You should know that it is okay to talk about issues with your vagina, and it is prudent to seek the services of an expert gynecologist for vaginal revitalization in Forest Hills. They will guide you on the options available for you. Vaginal rejuvenation could help treat vaginal relaxation relieving you of the discomfort that comes with aging and childbirth. Vaginal rejuvenation can help boost your self-confidence by improving your sexual experience and the ability to control your bladder after childbirth or as a result of aging.

Conditions Treated With Vaginal Rejuvenation

Vaginal relaxation might lead to decreased sexual sensation, and you can take care of this through vaginal rejuvenation. Vaginal tightness can have a significant impact on your sexual experience as it increases friction and pleasure. Vaginal rejuvenation can help you control a loose bladder that occurs due to childbirth and age. Some women who have experienced vaginal loosening say that they could not control the popping sound during yoga or while walking around, and this can be rectified with vaginal rejuvenation. There are different vaginal rejuvenation procedures which involve:

  • Vaginoplasty-which helps tighten the vagina
  • Labiaplasty- improves the appearance of the labia
  •  Labia majoraplasty- reduces the size of the labia majora
  • Clitoral reduction- is performed to reduce the size of the clitoris, which minimizes the folds of the clitoral hood.

What is a Vaginal Rejuvenation Procedure Like?

The vaginal rejuvenation procedure is performed in a hospital under general anesthesia, and it could take about one hour to complete. It would help if you chose a surgeon that makes you feel comfortable, as this helps you relax while undergoing the procedure. Your surgeon will examine your condition mark the areas for operation, and you might feel some pain and discomfort after the surgery. With the advice of a physical therapist, your gynecologist would prescribe some exercises that might help strengthen the pelvic muscles. Your surgeon gynecologist would help with vaginal muscle stretching, which helps reduce the formation of scars after the operation.

You should not have sex soon after the operation for at least two weeks as it can lead to tearing and delayed healing. Be careful not to lift heavy loads after the vaginal rejuvenation process as this could tear your wound. You should also eat small amounts of food and avoid constipation, which could stretch the muscles on the lower abdomen.

Is Vaginal Rejuvenation Effective?

Vaginal rejuvenation has a high success rate and can significantly improve the appearance of the genitalia and functionality. It can help you boost your self-confidence due to increased sexual pleasure and improved ability to control your bladder. You could choose minimally invasive methods of vaginal rejuvenation that leave you feeling good with minimal scars.

The Bottom Line

The vagina can relax due to childbirth, or aging and women are least likely to talk about the discomfort that results from vaginal relaxation. Vaginal rejuvenation can help tighten a relaxed vagina and enable you to control your bladder once more. Look for an expert who will help you achieve vaginal rejuvenation through minimally invasive procedures that heals within a short time.

A Closer Look at Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation

Receding gums can cause tooth sensitivity, affect the look of your smile, and make you look older due to tooth loss. Your gums can recede due to disease, excessive brushing, or the normal process of aging. If you are having gum recession problems, pinhole gum rejuvenation can come to your rescue. The thought of going under the knife, sutures, and grafts may prove to be a tough call of duty in your quest for a solution to your oral problems. Your doctor at Spa Dental Group Washington, DC, recommends this minimally invasive technique that does not leave any scarring.

What is Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation?

Gum recession exposes the teeth’s roots and can make you susceptible to a bacterial infection. When you visit your dentist for a pinhole gum rejuvenation procedure, they will use local anesthesia to numb and then create a small hole in the gums. The dentist will then gently pull the gum to cover the correct height at the area affected by the recession by using specialized tools. Your doctor will then insert collagen fiber through the tiny hole to help hold your gums in place. This treatment option requires one session.

Within a day or two, your gums will have healed, and you will not experience pain or swelling during or after your treatment. You will notice an improvement in how your teeth and gums appear immediately after your procedure.

Am I a Good Candidate for Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation?

If there are no underlying dental health issues affecting your gum recession, pinhole surgical rejuvenation is a viable option. Also, if you are having tooth sensitivity problems that are not tied to periodontal disease, you can opt for this method. If you are a smoker, you have to quit the habit after the procedure. Your doctor will require you to be in optimum overall health for the procedure to work. You must have a sufficient amount of gum tissue prior to the treatment for the procedure to be successful.

Benefits of Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation

Multiple locations can be addressed in one sitting using this technique, which saves time and money. When using the grafting method, multiple sessions will be required if the gingival recession affects more than one tooth.

  •       No surgical cutting or sutures: Pinhole gum rejuvenation is painless since there are no surgical cuttings or sutures.
  •       Less downtime: It will take a day or two for you to recover after treatment. You will be back to your daily activities without having to take a lot of time off.
  •       Fast results: Soon after your treatment, you can see a significant improvement to your gum line.

Ways to Avoid Gum Recession in the Future

Genetics can significantly influence your susceptibility to periodontal diseases. However, you can take the following measures to lower your chances of gum recession:

  •       Avoid using tobacco products
  •       Brush using a soft brush
  •       Make regular visits to your dentist for examination and dental cleaning
  •       Avoid piercings on the tongue and lips.

If left untreated, gum recession can lead to serious health issues. Consult your dentist today to learn more about pinhole gum rejuvenation.

When to go for an Epidural Steroid Injection

When you develop back pain, this can significantly affect your life. The pain can make you have sleepless nights and walking becomes a challenge. Finding what is causing the pain and how it can be treated becomes your priority. If this description fits you, there is hope in The Woodlands spinal stenosis. Jessen Mukalel MD has been helping the residents of The Woodlands, TX, struggling with chronic back and nerve pain using epidural steroid injections. This treatment method has revolutionized the management of nerve pain all over the world.

How epidural steroid injections help

Epidurals shots contain medication that helps reduce inflammation and pain in your epidural space (the outermost portion of your spinal canal, where the roots of the nerves are found).

You may be shocked at the thought of planting a needle injection in your spine. This emphasizes the need to seek a qualified and experienced provider. A wrong move can make you confined to a wheelchair for the rest of your life.

Jessen Mukalel MD will use X-ray imaging during the procedure to help precisely deliver the correct dose of steroid and anesthetic medication to the area that is giving you pain. Epidural injections can take up to 7 days to work after your injection and remain potent for several months. The medicine fights off inflammation of the nerve roots and soothes your back to give relief from pain.

When Can Epidural Steroid Injections Help?

Epidural injections do not provide relief for all types of back pains. These include pain from strains and sprains. Instead, the injections are designed to help provide relief from pain originating from the nerves at your back. Epidural steroid injections will provide relief against pain for the following conditions:

  •   Spinal stenosis
  •   Bone spurs
  •   Injuries to your spinal nerves, vertebrae, and surrounding tissues
  •   Bulging or herniated discs
  •   Failed back surgery syndrome that is characterized by chronic leg or back pain

Jessen Mukalel MD will start your treatment using conservative treatment methods including physical therapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to manage your pain. Epidural steroid injections are high in the hierarchy of nerve pain treatment.

Risks Of Epidural Steroid Injections

Epidural steroid injections have long been used to manage chronic pain. However, there are a few risks linked with the usage of these drugs. Corticosteroid injections have been found to cause infection and nerve damage in a paltry 1% of users. In most of the reported cases, the adverse effects of epidurals emanated from an overdose and not from physician error. Choosing a skilled doctor can help you avoid this problem. Below are the possible side effects of an overdose of corticosteroid medication:

  •   Hair loss
  •   Insomnia
  •   Weakening of muscle, cartilage, and bone
  •   High blood sugar
  •   Thinning of the soft tissue and skin at the injection site
  •   Facial flushing
  •   Fever
  •   Headaches
  •   Hormone imbalance

Proper care and administration of the right amounts of medication are crucial in ensuring the safe use of epidural medication. Visit an experienced physician to help you get relief from nerve pain.

California Center for Reproductive Health: The Complete Guide to Egg Donation

Reproductive health is one of the most sensitive topics in recent times because those people who suffer from issues related to it face not only physical symptoms but also psychological and social problems. The stigma faced by those unable to give birth, one of the reproductive health issues, is particularly surreal. In West Hollywood egg donation is one of the strategies used to fight infertility by EliranMor, MD, and Irene Woo, MD.

Meet Dr.Mor

Dr.Mor is well versed in the field of reproductive health, having received his medical degree from Tel Aviv University – Sackler School of Medicine. He undertook his four-year residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York Methodist Hospital based in Brooklyn. Later on, Dr.Mor finished his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of South California. He is board-confirmed in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology.

Having researched a variety of topics involving reproductive health, Dr.Mor is well specialized in interventions meant to reverse reproductive health issues, e.g., tubal gamete.

Meet Dr. Woo

Dr. Woo graduated with a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from the University of Pennsylvania and completed at Pennsylvania State University with a medical degree. She did her four-year fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Woo also completed a three-year fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of South California.

Egg freezing is something Dr. Woo has a keen interest in. She encourages young women to freeze their eggs while still in their early reproductive years. Having done extensive research in frozen oocyte embryo transfer, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and oocyte competency in women with reduced ovarian supply.

Interesting facts about Egg Donation

Are you worried about the inability to give birth due to complications with your eggs? Worry no more because Dr. Woo and Dr.Mor are there to help you by obtaining an egg from a young surrogate mother and implanting it in your uterus where sperm from your partner fertilizes it.

Usually, the stimulation for the production of eggs in the surrogate mother is done through injectable medication. At the same time, you undergo uterine preparation for the embryo implant, which will have been fertilized in a lab.

You may require egg donation services if;

  •       You  experience premature menopause
  •       You have reached menopause
  •       You have genetic factors affecting your fertility
  •       You are of advanced age with reduced ovarian reserves
  •       You are gay and want to have children with your partner, usually through gestational surrogacy.

Egg donation guarantees a higher success rate of childbirth compared to other interventions trying to treat infertility. At the California Center for Reproductive Health, safety comes first above everything else when it comes to egg donation. The egg donors also undergo screening to ensure physical, psychological, and genetic issues are eliminated so that you have a healthy baby. Call or book online with the California Center for Reproductive Health to seek this life-changing procedure now!

Other services offered at California Center for Reproductive Health

  •       Egg freezing
  •       Embryo freezing
  •       Gender selection
  •       Mini IVF
  •       Access IVF
  •       Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
  •       Oncofertility
  •       PGS/ PGD
  •       Tubal reversal
  •       Artificial insemination
  •       Sperm extraction
  •       LGBTQ fertility options

The inability to have a child can harm people emotionally and psychologically. Through various treatment options at California Reproductive Health Center, you are guaranteed to receive the optional treatment just right for you. Do not hold back with your reproductive health issues; book online now via the website or through calling the center.

Steroid Epidural Injection for Chronic Pain Management

If you have chronic pain in the neck, the spinal cord, or the legs, your doctor will advise you on the methods of pain management. One of the standard pain management practices for these types of pains includes epidural injections in the affected area. Clinical studies on epidural injections show that the injections help a patient deal with pain, reduce inflammation, and enables one to go back to normal activities. If chronic pain has reduced your quality of life, it could help if you seek an expert in epidural steroid injection in McAllen.

What Is A Steroid Epidural Injection?

Steroid injections include the use of corticosteroids and anesthesia that gives a numbing effect in the painful area. The injection is administered directly to the epidural sac in the spinal cord and can help deal with pain in the spinal region, the neck, and the legs. The epidural sac in the back is located between the protective dural sac, the spinal nerves, and the bony vertebra. The injection helps calm down the nerves, and it reduces inflammation in the affected area. The injection only helps reduce the pain by flushing away the proteins, which cause pain and swelling. Unfortunately, it does not reduce the herniated discs. The epidural injection could deal with pain for a few months or even years. In this time, a patient can recover by incorporating physical therapy and exercise programs that improve their conditions.

Who Can Have An Epidural Injection?

If you have neck, back, and leg pain that does not go away with conventional methods of pain management, an epidural would help improve your condition. Your doctor is likely to recommend epidural injection if you have the following conditions:

  •       Herniated discs

Herniated discs cause rapture of the soft tissues within the disc, which could seep into the spinal area and cause discomfort. Steroid epidural could help reduce the pain and discomfort caused by herniated discs, but unfortunately, it does not reduce the size of the discs.

  •       Spinal stenosis

If your spinal cord has stenosis, it narrows at the spinal canal and the nerve root canal. The narrowing of these parts of the spinal cord could cause back and neck and leg pain when moving, which could reduce your life quality.

  •       Sciatica

Sciatica pain occurs along the sciatic nerve in the legs and buttocks and is caused by the compression of the first spinal nerve or the fifth lumbar bone. An epidural injection can reduce inflammation caused by sciatic pain.

  •       Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is a weakness at the upper and lower facets of a vertebra, which could cause forward slipping of the vertebra and compress the nerve roots, thus causing pain. A doctor would recommend epidural steroid injections to deal with spondylolisthesis.

The Bottom Line

If you have chronic pain in the neck, back, or the legs that do not go away with traditional medicine, you should consider trying steroid epidural injections. The injection is administered at the spinal sac directly near the area with pain and is effective in reducing the pain by flushing the proteins that cause inflammation. The injection is an excellent way of dealing with pain while taking other steps such as therapy to deal with underlying issues.

How Can You Prevent Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are large twisted superficial veins in the legs caused by the pooling of blood in the legs due to standing, which puts a lot of pressure on the veins in the legs. Valves and muscles in the legs help to pump blood back to the heart, but in varicose veins, these valves have been damaged in such a way that they are unable to prevent the backflow of blood inside the veins in the legs.

Most people seek treatment for varicose veins because they are worried about their image. Varicose veins can be managed by doing exercises and elevating your legs, or you can get cosmetic vein treatment in Lake Mary to help improve your confidence in your physical appearance. This treatment is safe and will reduce any discomfort that you may be experiencing because of varicose veins.

What Are the Symptoms of Varicose Veins?

Many people with varicose veins rarely have any pain. Varicose veins are more of a cosmetic problem than a medical emergency. The most common symptom of varicose veins is blue or dark enlarged veins in the legs twisted like cords. Other symptoms of varicose veins is feeling like your legs are heavier than before and feeling itchy in the area with varicose veins.

Some people may also experience muscle cramping in the legs and can feel throbbing or burning. The legs may become swollen in people with varicose veins. The area that surrounds the varicose veins may have a different color than the rest of the leg. People who experience pain due to varicose veins can have worse pain when they stand or sit for prolonged periods.

Who Is at Risk of Varicose Veins?

 Old age causes the valves inside the veins to wear and tear, making them unable to prevent blood’s backflow inside the veins. Women are more likely to develop varicose veins during pregnancy and when they have high estrogen levels in the body due to hormonal contraception or hormonal replacement therapy during menopause.

Being overweight puts a lot of pressure on the valves in the legs and can cause them to fail, causing pooling of blood in the legs. Some people are genetically predisposed to getting varicose veins. If you sit or stand for prolonged periods, you are likely to develop varicose veins. Varicose veins can sometimes develop complications like chronic non- healing ulcers in the legs.

These ulcers may get infected and cause the death of tissues in the leg because there is no blood supply to support healing. When the tissues in the leg undergo necrosis, the leg will be amputated. Blood clots may also form inside the veins due to blood stasis, which can be life-threatening if the blood clot is carried to the heart or lung. Sometimes the varicose veins may rupture and bleed.

How Can You Prevent Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins cannot be completely prevented, but there is a way that people who are at high risk of varicose veins to prevent them. The risks can be reduced by weight reduction and by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You should exercise regularly and eat a diet that is low in salt. Avoiding wearing high heels and elevating your legs can also reduce varicose veins. Avoid sitting or standing for prolonged periods.

Conclusion

Varicose veins are large dark bulging veins in the legs caused by the pooling of blood in the legs due to the valves’ failure. Varicose veins rarely cause any pain, but they can present with heaviness in the legs and an itchy feeling. Weight management through exercise and eating a healthy diet while avoiding standing or sitting for prolonged periods can prevent varicose veins’ risk.